By Carin Clegg, Accredited Practising Dietitian and Fitness Professional
We all have one body in this life and we need to learn how to look after it to enjoy a fulfilling life for as long as we are on this Earth. But, our modern busy lives, full of screens and many networks of people, can make us forget about what we need to do to look after our body. Here are a few tips to help you rethink how you love your body.
Embrace your body
We all come in different shapes and sizes. No one is ‘perfect.’ There is no such thing as the thin ideal, this is something the media and old misled science has sold us. In fact, the BMI was created for population studies, not for individual use. Men and women have different body builds and our bodies change at every age and stage of life, so using one BMI number for both genders does not make sense. Also the standard BMI measurement does not apply for growing bodies.
We now know all the focus on weight, makes people less happy, it increases poor eating habits, reduces body satisfaction, and increases the risk of eating disorders. We need to take the subject of weight off the table.
We all need to embrace our bodies and love ourselves more. Remove the scales from your house and focus on all the things you do like about your body and all the things your body can do.
Savour your sleep
A good sleeping habit sets the foundations for good eating habits and physical fitness.
Sleep is so important to how we feel and how our mind and body functions. Sleep recharges your energy levels, heals, helps to build muscle, as well as influences hormones, hunger, how active we can be and our food choices.
Create a love for sleep in your household. Prioritise it. Ensure everyone has a good sleep routine. Make bedtime the same time every night. For the half hour prior to bed plan some relaxing activities, dim the lights, and avoid screens to wind down both mind and body.
Love moving your body
Our bodies are designed to move. They have evolved to run long distances to hunt down prey. Compare this to our modern life. How different were our bodies back then, stronger, fitter, with a longer endurance. It is no wonder our bodies feel sick, lacking energy when we are so sedentary.
Think of exercise or body movement as medicine. In fact, for many mental health conditions, exercise prescription is far more effective than any medicine.
Exercise makes us more able to cope with any stress that comes into our life, improves our mood, gives us energy, encourages a good appetite, and helps us sleep well. The mind–body connection builds confidence, self–satisfaction, a positive body image and inevitably makes you love yourself.
Make exercise fun. We all deserve and need to prioritise having fun in our lives no matter our age. Go for a daily walk, run, swim or bike ride, kick or bat a ball around or perhaps try something new like a dance or circus class. Whatever you choose, make sure you find enjoyment in it, as this is the secret to being fit and healthy for years to come.
Nourish your body with food
Eating the foods our body needs, means our body gets the right amount of nutrients to function optimally. Good digestion, a strong immune system, feeling energised and strong as well as keeping all those medical markers of disease at bay. However, nourishing your body with food can be so much more.
Slow down and eat mindfully and purposefully. Think to yourself, eating is a way you love your body, a guaranteed way you nourish the body. Savour all the smells, tastes, and textures as you eat. Be aware of how the food makes you feel, emotionally and from a hunger and satiety aspect.
Putting the effort in to grow your own food and being able to eat it is so rewarding. Cooking, when you give yourself the time, can be a fabulous creative outlet for the soul. Combining the two, growing food, cooking, and sharing meals together builds that nutritious connection with your body, food and the people close to you in your life and is the ultimate form of nourishment.
Embrace and love your body in all the ways you can and encourage everyone else in your world to do the same to feel happy, healthy and vibrant!
Carin Clegg is the Director of Bright Diets, is a Paediatric Dietitian and Fitness Professional with an interest in sustainability. Carin wants everyone to be clever about their eating to feel happy, healthy and vibrant! Reach out at 0413 77 44 11, www.brightdiets.com.au or on the socials.